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Mother talks about raising children diagnosed with microcephaly

As Palm Beach County reacts to the first locally contracted case of the Zika virus, one local mother is hoping her story will help pregnant mothers who are infected with the disease. Sanika Dange reports.

As Palm Beach County reacts to the first locally contracted case of the Zika virus, one local mother is hoping her story will help pregnant mothers who are infected with the disease. Sanika Dange reports.

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Updated: 2:52 PM EDT Aug 9, 2016

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WEBVTT WE SPOKE TO A WOMAN WHO GAVEBIRTH TO TWO CHILDREN DIAGNOSEDWITH THE CONDITION.>> THIS IS ONE.THEY LOOK AT MY KIDS AND THINKIT IS SO FUNNY.I'VE HAD PEOPLE LAUGH AT MYKIDS.MY KIDS HAVE BEEN CALLED EVERYNAME YOU COULD EVER THINK OF.OTHERS DON'T KNOW WHERE TO LOOK.THEY SEE MY KIDS, AND IT ISLIKE, OH MY GOD, CROSSING THEROAD, AVOIDING US LIKE SOMEONEWITH LEPROSY, AND THEN YOU GETTHE THIRD TYPE OF PEOPLE, THEPEOPLE I LOVE WITH ALL MY HEART,THOSE WHO COME TO ME AND SAY,WHAT HAPPENED?SOMEBODY, SOMEBODY WANTS TO KNOWMY STORY.FELICIA: BORN AND RAISED IN THESMALL COUNTRY OF MULLALLY, SHEWAS PREGNANT FOUR TIMES BY THEAGE OF 29.ONE, A HEALTHY BABY GIRL NAMEDTONYA.ONE, A MISCARRIAGE.THEN ANDREA AND ROBBIE.BOTH ARE DIAGNOSED WITHMICROCEPHALY, THE DISEASE LINKEDTO THE ZIKA VIRUS.DOCTORS GAVE ANDREA FOUR MONTHSTO LIVE.NOW SHE IS 37.HER BROTHER IS 33.SHE SAYS HER KIDS DAZZLE HEREVERYDAY.>> I NEVER EXPECTED I COULD GIVETHEM AN INSTRUCTION AND THEYCOULD FOLLOW THIS INSTRUCTION.EVERY TIME, THEY DO SOMETHINGNEW.SATURDAY IS ROBBIE'S BIRTHDAY.SHE IS SINGING NOW.♪♪>> SHE KNOWS THE TUNE OF HAPPYBIRTHDAY, AND SHE HUGGED HIM ANDKISSED HIM.I SEE THE LOVE BETWEEN THE TWOOF THEM, AND IT BRINGS TEARS TOMY EYES.>> SHE IS HOPEFUL AS MORE CASESARE IDENTIFIED, MORE RESEARCHWILL BE DONE TO FIND A WAY TOFIGHT IT.SHE ALSO REACHED OUT TO WPBFBECAUSE SHE HAS A MESSAGE TO ALLTO-BE MOTHERS INFECTED WITH THEZIKA VIRUS.>> IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLDJUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE THESEKIDS.THEY WILL TEACH THEM SO MUCH.THEY WILL TEACH THEM HOW TO LOVE.THEY WILL TEACH THEM PATIENTS,WHICH IS THE GREATEST GIFT.IF WE HAVE THE PATIENCE TO GOTHROUGH THAT, THE REWARDS ARE SOMUCH GREATER.MY KIDS ARE MY GREATEST GIFT.

Mother talks about raising children diagnosed with microcephaly

As Palm Beach County reacts to the first locally contracted case of the Zika virus, one local mother is hoping her story will help pregnant mothers who are infected with the disease. Sanika Dange reports.